About The Madeleine Brand Show

The Madeleine Brand Show, exclusively on 89.3 KPCC, 89.1 KUOR and 90.3 KVLA, captures the spirit of the West in a conversational, informal, witty style and examines the cultural issues people are buzzing about. Hosted by Madeleine Brand, and produced by Kristen Muller, Steve Proffitt and Sanden Totten, the show includes regular segments like Weird L.A. - highlighting a person, place or thing that you've never heard about, but probably should; Parenting on the Edge - a weekly discussion on the challenges and pitfalls of raising kids; as well as regular contributors like Luke Burbank, Rico Gagliano, Brendan Newnam and John Moe to help dissect culture, technology and business news.

Paul Ryan's political philosophies were shaped in large part by author Ayn Rand. He said he was inspired to go into politics after reading Rand's two bestselling novels, Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

Rand's novels sparked a movement called "Objectivism" which called for laissez-faire capitalism and a pursuit of "rational self interest".

Ryan has embraced Rand's philosophies of limited government and even said he required his staffers to read Atlas Shrugged.

The congressman authored a budget that would bring US government more closely in line with Rand's vision by ending Medicare as an entitlement program and replacing it with a system of vouchers.

Ryan has since backed away from his connections with Rand, calling his identification with her an "urban myth" but her philosophies have clearly affected his political worldview.